He squared his shoulders, took my hand, and led me upstairs.
CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE
STELLA
MY DRESS ARRIVED ON the morning of the coronation. Its emerald silk gleamed in the rays of sun filtering through my window. I walked around it, making sure it was perfect for the night. I would know for certain once Sin saw me in it.
After his mother’s funeral, he’d gone to New Orleans for two days to clean up financial and legal matters concerning her estate. He was set to arrive at lunchtime.
I smiled just thinking about what he’d say about the dress. I drew it myself and sent the specifications to his seamstress. She’d whipped it up in record time. The bodice was a black corset with a neckline that skirted the tops of my breasts in a straight line. My vines would be on full display, and the back was low enough to show my scars. The skirt flowed out in deep green silk, with a slit up one thigh for easy access to my knife.
“Stella?” Sin’s voice had my heart racing. He was home early.
I took off toward the stairs and flew down them. He caught me as I jumped into his arms from two steps up.
He laughed, the sound warming me more than a summer sun. “I missed you, too.” He kissed along my cheek to my lips and ran a hand to my hair. His tongue swept into my mouth, and he backed me into the wall next to the music room. He moved a hand to my breast and I squeaked when he ran his thumb over my nipple.
He broke our kiss and looked down. “What’s this?”
“I…” Color rose in my cheeks, which was odd given that he’d seen and tasted every inch of my body. “I got my nipples pierced.”
“You what?” He set me down and yanked my shirt up.
“Sin!” I tried to pull it back down and glanced around for Farns or Laura. We were, thankfully, alone.
“Jesus.” He bent his head to my left breast and licked along the metal barbell.
My pussy clenched at the mix of pleasure and pain. “Ow. They’re still healing.”
“That’s a you problem, not a me problem.” He licked again and pulled my shirt to my collarbones. “Ink, too? This is beautiful. Here.” He pulled my shirt up to my neck and caged my throat with his palm.
“Tony’s work?” He inspected the vines and licked my other nipple as I made an mmm sound.
“Yes.”
“He touched you?”
“He wore gloves.”
His palm tightened. “He touched you?”
“He had to. But he knows I’m yours. He was a consummate professional the entire time.”
“Mmhmm.” He traced the vines with his index finger. “I love it, though I may still kill him for it.”
“Sin, don’t be mad—”
He rubbed the flat of his tongue along my left nipple, and I pressed my lips together to keep from moaning. Footsteps in the hall had him whirling, covering me with his broad body. I hastily lowered my shirt. Farns rounded the corner, a bandage still affixed to his forehead.
“How are you feeling?” Sin asked.
“Much better, thank you.”
“Maybe we should have that talk again. The one about you taking it easy while bossing a younger man around.”
“No sir. Not a chance. Not while there’s still breath left in this beat up old body.”
“It wouldn’t be so bad.” Once my shirt was straight, I walked over and squeezed Farns’ bony elbow. “It’s not like you’d be going anywhere.”
“All the same, I prefer to continue my duties for as long as I’m allowed.”
“Suit yourself. Come on, Stella, I have some estate particulars to go over with Lucius and Teddy.”
I followed him down the hall. Laura had prepared an early lunch. We told her we’d be leaving in the afternoon and attending an all-night party. Teddy and Lucius sat at the table, Teddy chatting with Laura as Lucius spoke Spanish on his phone.
When we walked in, Teddy said, “We’re going to need some family time, babe. I’ll catch up with you before we leave this afternoon.”
Laura’s cheeks turned pink, but she nodded and went to the kitchen. Sin closed the door behind us, and Lucius ended his phone call.
“What’s the word?” Lucius popped a cheese straw into his mouth.
“Mother’s estate is taken care of. I checked her holdings in the city—all the safe deposit boxes are secure. She left it all to me, but I saw fit to divide the estate equally three ways. However, the business won’t be quite so easy to divvy up, so all three of us will remain on the board. Also, I kept the house for myself, because I can.”
“That all sounds fine by me.” Lucius nodded.
“Does that mean I’m rich now?” Teddy asked.
Sin smirked. “Oh, forgot to mention, your third is held in trust. Lucius and I are the trustees.”
“Aw, shit.” Teddy took an angry bite of his baguette to the point it was almost comical.